KARACHI, June 3: Four visitors belonging to Karachi narrowly escaped death from drowning on Sunday afternoon, when they were saved by fellow pickners at Gadani beach, while local police and life guards of Hub district were busy in extorting money from visitors on different pretexts.

The incident provided another opportunity for the life guards present at the beach to apprehend every playing youngster of violating the regulations.

Thousands of visitors from Karachi travel to Gadani beach during summer holidays to enjoy the scenic beaches, but majority is faced with extortion by police at various points on the 25km long journey.

The most strict criteria has been established by PS Gadani, whose official standing in uniform next to the toll collection point take about Rs30 per vehicle, which is apart from the Entertainment Tax collected by the respective union council.

Many youths, apprehended by senior life guards at the Gadani beach, are usually let off after taking petty amount.

Meanwhile, reports have been received that boys, sitting along with their female companions away from the beach, are also harassed by police officials in plain clothes and are usually let off after taking bribes. Those creating hue and cry also at times are taken to the PS Gadani, where friends and family members of these youths in distress have to pay over Rs500 as bribe (what they call chai-pani) to secure their early release.

It may be recalled here that after the implementation of devolution plan the responsibility to impose Section-144 lies with the District Nazim. The Section-144 banning swimming and bathing in the sea has not been imposed at Gadani beach so far. However, police officials usually threaten these apprehended youths of lodging FIR against them for violating Section-144. Recently, a police constable Niaz Baluch of Gidani PS whisked away Rs1,000 from the bag of a visitor in a similar manner.

Despite being a small picnic point, Gadani is one of the most vulnerable spots around Karachi, where casualities occur every other day, which is mainly because authorities are more busy in trapping visitors rather than rescuing them.

One of the major reason for this free hand of police with the nexus of life guards and locals in their extortionist activities and harassment of visitors is isolation of the spot and lack of communication facilities, as mobile phones do not work there.

The authorities are eager to promote local and international tourism in the country and develop such scenic spots.—PPI